Top Defensive Trios (4A, Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With high school football returning this month, we look at some of the best defensive trios within class 4A. This list will be split into two parts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ADM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13301741/65dcdb6ef55fca0ac0825cac">[player_tooltip player_id='1286621' first='Ethan' last='Asche']</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13301754/Brayden-Rynearson">[player_tooltip player_id='1402881' first='Brayden' last='Rynearson']</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13301756/65dbaa79420f9b0528c22c39">[player_tooltip player_id='1402893' first='Karver' last='Sutton']</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers return an experienced trio of players. Asche and Sutton are great complements to each other on the defensive line. While Sutton is a powerful interior force, Asche brings the speed and finesse off the edge. They both can generate pressure and are physical enough to stop the run. Behind them is the team's second-leading tackler from a season ago. Rynearson is a very athletic linebacker as he can play the run and is efficient when dropping into coverage. He reads and fills gaps well but can also move in space showcasing he is more versatile than people think. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ballard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16659533/654c75378cd4770438637dde">[player_tooltip player_id='1165288' first='Jackson' last='Wacha']</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16655683/Tucker-Vitzthum/highlights?_gl=1*1lvs9mq*_ga*MjAzMzE1MDk0My4xNzIxNzMyOTUz*_ga_29LPHS2HWC*MTcyNDMzMDIxNC4xLjEuMTcyNDMzNDY2Ni4wLjAuMA..">Tucker Vitzthum</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16659528/Rhett-Hedrick/highlights?_gl=1*1lvs9mq*_ga*MjAzMzE1MDk0My4xNzIxNzMyOTUz*_ga_29LPHS2HWC*MTcyNDMzMDIxNC4xLjEuMTcyNDMzNDY2Ni4wLjAuMA..">Rhett Hedrick</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bombers return three of their most productive players on defense. Wacha was the 4A tackle leader last season and can do it all. He is an off ball backer who can "see ball and get ball". He often runs through guys rather than around them and is a force in every aspect. He can rush the passer, stop the run, drop into coverage and create turnovers. His fellow backer, Hedrick was just as productive. He plays with great effort and instincts, as he can quickly trigger whenever he reads run. He also is a physical tackler who often strikes first and has a good grapple when bringing them down. Vitzthum is an athlete in the backend. Like Wacha and Hedrick, he is also a wrestler that shows his ability when tackling and striking. He is not afraid to come down and hit people as well as throw himself into the mix of many group tackles. He was also second on the team in interceptions a season ago, proving he has exceptional ball skills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clear Creek Amana</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14979414/Vinnie-Keller">[player_tooltip player_id='533061' first='Vinnie' last='Keller']</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15157107/653f03daab92a90b40b05cd3">Trace Robertson</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14982219/66396f4cce7bbd25ca7d22d9">[player_tooltip player_id='1340943' first='Ben' last='Haughey']</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Clippers have a very intriguing trio that all play close to the line of scrimmage. Keller is a big, quick, and powerful interior defensive lineman who dominates at stopping the run. He has a good arsenal of power moves that help home defeat blockers and create pressure on the quarterback. Robertson is a roll-down, overhang type of safety who shows great athleticism and physicality in space. He knows how to pull his trigger when seeing run but is also smart and aware of what is happening in the passing game. Then there is Haughey who is a tough, finesse type of linebacker. He shows good physicality but also knows how to avoid blocks and still make plays. He also brings the versatility of playing in the box and being able to play in space, even can come off the edge with the effort and attitude he plays with. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dallas Center-Grimes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14998238/Tate-Perrin/highlights?_gl=1*1tsvlt8*_ga*MjAzMzE1MDk0My4xNzIxNzMyOTUz*_ga_29LPHS2HWC*MTcyNDMzMDIxNC4xLjEuMTcyNDMzMDc3Ni4wLjAuMA..">Tate Perrin</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14992860/65e7bc9d64dedb03a0df4124">Caden Mayfield </a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16126008/Taitn-Gray">Tatin Gray</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs return a majority of their backend. All three defensive backs play a pivotal role in their defense. Mayfield is a long, savvy, and instinctive corner with good anticipation and ball skills. He uses all of his size to not allow receivers to catch the ball while using his strides to stay hip to hip. Gray is an athlete who just knows how to be around the ball. He is fearless when showing up for the run and has some good awareness and anticipation. Perrin led the 4A in interceptions a season ago (9). He is a true free safety who knows how to scan the field and cover ground. With these three returning, the Mustangs can very well have a trio of DBs who can prove to give quarterbacks trouble. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Dodge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18015981/653fcfceda5c260cc4011722">[player_tooltip player_id='1620020' first='Jesse' last='Egli']</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18195327/653ab30a478cf5046ca3640d">[player_tooltip player_id='1619976' first='Noah' last='Daniel']</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17996675/651459fa02b154049029e3bf">Dreshaun Ross</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All the playmakers on this list for the Dodgers are sound and productive players. Not to mention they're all still very young. Ross is just a freak who dominates whoever is in front of him. The linebacker is a fast, physical playmaker who has no problem shedding blocks or running sideline to sideline to hunt down ball carriers. Daniel and Egli are a very underrated safety duo. Daniel is your deep center field safety who can come downhill quickly but also cover well. Egli is more of your hybrid safety, who can make plays at the line of scrimmage but also covers well. Give these three nothing but time because their ceiling is high. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gilbert</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16641956/Tayshawn-gillen">[player_tooltip player_id='1238526' first='Tayshawn' last='Gillen']</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15341719/6605781d0631c9e93fd32036">[player_tooltip player_id='1418106' first='Bowen' last='Kruse']</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15345191/6548668dc119a009b8a689bd">[player_tooltip player_id='252314' first='Will' last='Hawthorne']</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers can argue for the best linebacker duo in the state. Hawthorne and Kruse are playmakers. Playing beside each other, it's as if they feed off one another's energy and play with a "who's gonna get to the ball first" mentality. Both are physically strong and have a motor that can't be taught. Upfront, Gillen makes sure his presence is felt. Leading the team in TFLs a season ago, Gillen has speed and finesse off the edge and can make it tonight for linemen to get their hands on him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->